“And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:28)
Apostles are first because the church is built on them. Apostles and prophets form its foundations, and Jesus Christ its cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20)
“For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” (1 Corinthians 4:9)
How can apostles be both first and last? The paradox is solved as we see from Scripture that this foundation ministry gift, like all foundations, is not visible when the building of a church is completed.
So it is with an apostle: a thriving church may soon forget that its stability is the result of a hard-working apostle who laid solid foundations, and then moved on, leaving pastors and teachers to finish building the church.
Likewise, the apostle Paul’s foundational ministry at Corinth was largely “out of sight, out of mind” after the teaching ministries of Apollos and others had built a great church in that city.
In truth, the office of an apostle is not a ministry gift to be elevated above others, as some imagine. In the case of apostles, “first” means first on the building site, rather than superior in rank or status.
From my study of the Apostle Paul’s ministry, I have noted about 20 major characteristics of an apostle. They are these:
1. An apostle strives to preach where Christ is not known, or where New Testament-based churches are not yet established. (Romans 15:20; 2 Corinthians 10:16) The heart of an apostle is for the “regions beyond”.
2. An apostle seeks God’s perfect timing, and has a strong desire to impart spiritual gifts and to share mutual strengths. (Romans 1:10,11)
3. An apostle knows when his work in one area is finished, and it’s time to move on. (Romans 15:23) If there are ministry opportunities in the area, but if none of them are apostolic in nature, he seeks new direction.
4. An apostle is helped to reach new areas by churches to which he ministers, en route to his destination. (Acts 15:3; Romans 15:24; 1 Corinthians 16:6; 2 Corinthians 1:16)
5. An apostle is not autocratic, demanding or dominant, but interactive, gentle and supportive. (1 Thessalonians 2:6; 2 Corinthians 1:24)
6. An apostle experiences emotional pain and anguish when exercising discipline, because his ministry is relationally-based. (2 Corinthians 2:4)
7. An apostles reasons for doing things are not always apparent at the time, but those he mentors understand, because they can interpret him. (2 Corinthians 2:9 & 7:12; 1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 12:18)
8. An apostle commits spiritual judgements to others, accepting the validity of their on-the-spot assessments in his absence. (2 Corinthians 2:10)
9. An apostle has ongoing believers as his ministry credentials, and the truth displayed in his life commends him. (2 Corinthians 3:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:2)
10. An apostle’s life is a paradox: because he is already dead to all but God’s will, it is impossible to defeat him. Despite every circumstance, by his conduct, and regardless of his reputation. (2 Corinthians 4:8-12)
11. An apostle’s love for others is unrestricted, and he seeks to enlarge their capacity to reciprocate that love. (2 Corinthians 6:11-13)
12. An apostle’s appearance may disguise his authority, which he exercises indirectly, rather than confrontationally. (2 Corinthians 10:1-5)
13. An apostle measures his ministry growth by Christ’s stature, not by the measure of his ‘apostolic’ competitors. (2 Corinthians 10: 12-15)
14. An apostle links his future progress to the growing faith of those to whom he ministers. (2 Corinthians 10:13-16)
15. An apostle exhibits a holy jealousy towards those whose purity of faith is in danger of being corrupted by false values. (2 Corinthians 11:1-9)
16. An apostle openly acknowledges his sufferings and conscious dependence on God for deliverance. (2 Corinthians 11:18-33)
17. An apostle clothes his elevated spiritual experiences with anonymity, and uncovers the secret strength of his weaknesses. (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
18. An apostle’s love for those to whom he ministers exhaustively does not require them to reciprocate. (2 Corinthians 12:11-15)
19. An apostle draws his authority from Christ’s resurrection by first identifying with Christ’s humiliation. (2 Corinthians 13:4)
20. An apostle accepts that those who succeed in ministry because of him may one day regard themselves as superior to him. (1 Corinthians 4:8,10)
These are the characteristics of a true apostle. The “signs of an apostle” accompany him wherever he goes, and those who are spiritual are quick to recognize that he is a ministry gift to the church worldwide.